Many parents experience the challenge of potty training their little ones. It can get frustrating most of the time and the child can get bored with the routine that most parents use. But this shouldn’t be because there are some strategies that can effectively potty teach your child.
For first-time parents, particularly mothers, the appropriate age for a child to be potty-trained can vary. Many experienced mothers would advise you to potty train your child at least when she is 1 year old or before 2 years old. Again, it varies and generally depends on how your child will respond to the training and how she administers it.
The first thing to do is to watch your child if he is ready to be potty trained. An inquisitive child under the age of 2 may show signs of interest in what adults are up to, so take this opportunity to explain to your child where the poop and pee go. Once you’ve established his interest in this topic, you can apply the “sit and change” technique, which is basically sitting him down at every diaper change.
The next thing to do is use rewards for every job well done. This is in conjunction with potty training him/her when necessary. Giving your child an upbeat praise will train his mindset that potty training is a good thing and he will receive praise and rewards for doing it.
As much as possible, don’t give your child options by asking “do you want to go to the bathroom?” Instead, tell your child directly that “it’s potty time” or “it’s time to sit down.” Do this at the beginning of your potty training with your child so he doesn’t get confused.
Remember that full potty training does not have to last more than 3 weeks. Be sure to tell your child that whenever he needs to poop, pee, or change a diaper, he should get her attention. Tell your child that she can use her favorite nursery rhyme, her dance, or anything upbeat to signal that it’s potty time. This can make potty training fun and your child will enjoy the experience instead of becoming bored, frustrated and stressed.
Once your child has established an interest and has done initial potty training, you can put underwear on him. You can make her sit every hour. Although some people make their kids sit down after every 30 minutes, at this rate your child will get tired and training sessions may no longer be fun.
You can also take your child’s potty with you when you are out or on a trip. Potty training can be done while you and your child are on the road, so when he/she needs to go, you can stop and let your child get into your vehicle using the porta-potty.
Don’t worry about accidents because they happen especially during the first days. Just keep practicing the routine and always praise for trying and reward for doing the job right. Be patient and encouraging because this can really help your child to be potty trained in a proper and timely manner.
